In the old part of Maribor, in front of more than 50.000 people, 33 handmade flying machines took off above the Drava River, causing delight and laughter among the audience.
When imagination gets wings
Red Bull Flugtag, or “flying day,” first took off in 1992 in Vienna, and since then, this celebration of creativity, bravery, and fun has spread worldwide, attracting thousands of visitors. Competitors spend months building their flying creations, hoping their machines will withstand the challenge and bring them glory!
Maribor hosted Red Bull Flugtag for the second time, and this year, 33 teams from all over Slovenia dared to showcase their flying skills and creativity. For months, they prepared their flying machines, and on Sunday, the pilots bravely launched themselves from a platform above the Drava, ending up in the water with lots of laughter and applause from the crowd!
The competition began with a spectacular flyover by an old Douglas DC-6B airplane, which once belonged to Josip Broz Tito and is now part of the Red Bull fleet. The plane made three passes over the old part of Maribor, Lent, saluting the brave competitors and the audience.
To fly or to splash?
The audience enjoyed the performances of the teams and the adrenaline-filled moments! Each flying machine, made from eco-friendly materials, had to endure a flight over the Drava, and after landing, the teams made sure that no part was left in the water.
Among the competitors was the legendary ski jumper Robert Kranjec with his team “Onkoman.” Despite ambitious plans to fly 200 meters, Kranjec landed after 20 meters, but with great style and a smile on his face. “The feeling was incredible; we just needed a little more wind,” Kranjec said after the flight.
If being a judge was easy, everyone would be a judge
However, distance wasn’t the most important factor for the result. The flight earned some points, but performance before the flight and creativity in building the flying machine were also crucial. A special jury, observing the teams from the control tower, took care of this: Janja Garnbret, Marko Kocjan-Emkej, Rebeka Dremelj, Marcos Tavares, and Matic Gomboc.
“I have to admit it was very nice, and I was a little nervous before the start because being a judge isn’t easy. But the competitors impressed me with their creativity. In the end, it was great, and I’m glad I could be a judge at Red Bull Flugtag,” said Janja Garnbret.
Flew, landed, won
In the end, the proud Styrians from the team “Stara Postaja” had the best total score. They flew 19 meters, and the additional points earned for artistic impression brought them victory. Second place went to the team “Leteca Viola,” while third place was claimed by the team “Avatar: The Last Spricer Bender.”
During breaks between events, spectators were thrilled by motorized paraglider Dimitris Kolliakos from Greece with his stunts above the Drava, Polish aerobatic pilot Lukasz Czepiela in his Carbon Cub, as well as pilots and parachutists from the local aero club in Maribor, RedBull writes.
